Highlights of EECC's “30Plus”/EC-25 Proposal
13 of EECC’s 32 individual proposals have been incorporated into a single proposal, EC-25, which we call “30Plus” because its adoption would produce a 2012 IECC that is more than 30% more energy efficient than the 2006 IECC (the base year in congressional residential efficiency legislation).
“30Plus”/EC-25 will improve home safety, comfort, affordability and efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the following:
Life-cycle Savings Is the Stated Intent of the IECC.
Effective use and “conservation” of energy over “the life of the building” is the stated intent of the International Energy Conservation Code (also ADM-24)
More Effective Air Sealing, Insulation & Leakage Prevention
- Requiring both testing (with a written report) & a more limited visual inspection;
- Allowing code officials to require independent testing & inspection with written reports;
- Reducing code officials’ burden by eliminating inspection requirements obviated by the test;
- Replacing air changes per hour (ACH) with the more accurate and consistent Specific Leakage Area (SLA) as the standard; improving the testing protocol & requiring better air leakage performance; and
- Separating insulation installation inspection criteria from the air barrier inspection criteria to allow for each to be required or exempted based on the whether testing is conducted. (also EC-81)
More Effective Duct Insulation, Sealing & Testing
Ensures homeowner comfort and energy savings from properly designed, constructed, insulated and sealed ducts by substantially improving duct insulation, sealing and testing requirements. Specifically, this proposal:
- Reduces allowed total duct leakage by 50% if ducts are outside conditioned space;
- Requires a less stringent duct tightness test for ducts in conditioned space to ensure that conditioned air is delivered to its intended destination;
- Requires R-4 duct insulation when supply ducts are located in the conditioned space to address condensation and house durability issues;
- Eliminates the use of building framing cavities as ducts;
- Establishes requirements for a written test report, to increase and simplify enforceability and accountability;
- Allows code officials to require an independent party to conduct the test; and
- Simplifies and makes consistent testing requirements by reducing the four possible tests to a single post-construction test of total duct leakage. Requires final testing of the ducts when construction is complete to ensure that the home owner is receiving a home that meets the intent of the code. (also EC-103)
Like Kind “Trade Up” Ensures Improved Hot Water Efficiency
Requires improvement of EITHER the hot water distribution system efficiency OR the water heating equipment. (also EC-114)
Like Kind “Trade Up” Ensures More Efficient HVAC or Energy Recovery Ventilation Equipment
Trade-up generates significant energy savings EITHER through tested air leakage improvements with energy recovery ventilation equipment OR though having higher efficiency equipment. (also EC-126)
Improved Window U-Factors in Climate Zones 1-3 and in Colder Climate Zones Marine 4, and 5-8
Substantially boosts energy efficiency in climate zones 1-3 by lowering fenestration U-factors to more closely reflect actual windows used in these zones. (also EC-34). Boosts window insulating value by improving fenestration U-factor requirement to 0.32 for colder climate zones. (also EC-39).
Eliminating Exceptions to Window Efficiency
Makes new homes more energy efficient in Climate Zones 1-3 by eliminating unnecessary and overly broad IECC U-factor & IRC U-factor/ SHGC exceptions for impact rated fenestration. (also EC-35).
Improved Window SHGC in Climate Zones 1-3
Increases energy efficiency, improves comfort and reduces peak demand & cooling system sizing in climate zones1, 2 and3 by lowering prescriptive Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) values to 0.25 (based on success of identical values for commercial buildings in both 2006 & 2009 IECC) . (also EC-41).
Better Ceiling Insulation (CZ 2-5)
Improves thermal envelope efficiency – consistent with new US DOE recommendations for cost-effective ceiling insulation levels – in Climate Zones 2-5 (R-38/38/49/49 and U‑F .030/.030/.026/.026). Heating and cooling energy savings are significant and long lasting. (also EC-45).
Better Wall Insulation in Climate Zones 3 & 4 and in Climate Zones 6-8
Allows several builder compliance options to improve thermal envelope efficiency through improved wood & mass wall insulation in Climate Zones 3 and 4 (also EC-47) and in Climate Zones 6-8 (also EC-48). Energy savings are substantial and long lasting; wall insulation is difficult to add after new construction is complete.
Better Foundation Insulation in Colder Climates
Improves thermal envelope efficiency through improved foundation insulation (i.e., basements & crawlspaces) in colder climates (R-15/19 and U-F .050/.055). Energy savings are significant and long lasting; foundation insulation is harder to install after new construction is complete. (also EC-50).
